West Papua's Slow Motion Genocide

Why Are We So Apathetic About The ‘Slow-Motion Genocide’ Of West Papua’s Indigenous Population?

Stephen Corby

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Are we, as Australians, good neighbours, or are we the racist pigs of the Pacific; right behind you if you’re white like us, but happy to leave you to die in a ditch — or rot on an island — if you’re not?

Take a minute to consider how other, smaller but sometimes more populous islands in the region probably see us, with our human rights law “detention centres” (a Nazi piece of work, if ever there was one, and rightly damned by the United Nations), our flame-haired, half-witted politicians preaching hate (“We’re being invaded by Asians/Muslims/autistic kids”), and even our more sensible leaders suggesting we need to stop immigration so we can all buy cheaper houses.

It’s fair to say we look selfish, stupid and completely uncaring about what others in the region think of us, nor about what’s going on with them.

In the case of West Papua, not only one of our closest neighbours but a strategic stronghold that, if history tells us anything, stands between us and any invading force, we must look cold and cruel. How many Australians even know about the plight of this area’s people, or the fact that its indigenous population is suffering what’s being called a “slow-motion genocide”?

Try to imagine what would happen if Indonesia — a brutish country that makes us look like Buddhists by comparison — were to announce it was annexing the north island of New Zealand and declaring all its people to be, henceforth, Indonesians with funny accents.

Sure, we’d still be able to ski in the south, but what of the peace-loving, sheep-bothering farmers of the north? Would we just leave them to it, because we’re too damn scared of the Indonesian government to dare annoy them? Not bloody likely, because Kiwis are white, and quite a bit like us.

Apparently our shared interests include leaving a whole nation of people to wither and die, while we turn a blind eye.

Consider that in 1962, the UN, with our agreement, allowed Indonesia to take control of West Papua, without giving the people who lived there a say. And that on the eve of this bloodless, morality-free handover, two West Papuan politicians crossed the border into the then Australian-administered territory of Papua New Guinea, calling for independence and asking for the chance to plead their case with the UN.

Not only did the Australian government refuse to help, but in an agreement reached with the Indonesians we detained the men, and any other political activists who dared to speak out, in a little place whose name you might recognise: Manus Island.

Today the West Papuans have become an ethnic minority in their own country, while Indonesia has benefited from multinational corporations sucking out the natural wealth from the ground.

Despite plenty of evidence of the torture and murder of indigenous people by cruel authoritarian rulers, our dear old Tony Abbott told the Indonesians he admired what they’d done to “improve the autonomy and the life of the people of West Papua.” No, he really did.

And we continue to let them get away with it today, not just because no-one in Australia cares enough to force our politicians to do otherwise, but because we are intimidated, even cowed, by the might of Indonesia, and we let the bullies get away with it.

Political strategists would call what we’re doing “wise”, and indeed the Australian Defence White Paper of 2013 made it very clear, stating that “Australia’s strong partnership with Indonesia remains our most important regional strategic relationship, and the partnership continues to deepen and broaden in support of our significant shared interests.”

Apparently our shared interests include leaving a whole nation of people to wither and die, while we turn a blind eye.

Frankly we’re pretty shit neighbours, unless you happen to be Indonesian. I wouldn’t invite us over for a barbecue.